Synopsis

In the early 1920s, Leopold Weiss travelled to the Middle East and Islam became his new spiritual home. Originally a Jew, he converted to Islam, changed his name to Muhammad Asad, and became one of the most important Muslims of the 20th century and a mediator between East and West, first as an advisor at the royal court of Saudi Arabia, later translating the Qur’an into English and co-founding Pakistan. ‘A Road to Mecca’ follows his footsteps, leading from the deserts of Arabia to Ground Zero. Presented by Doha Film Institute as part of ‘Hajj – The Journey Through Art’, an exhibition curated by the Museum of Islamic Art in collaboration with the British Museum.

#FocusonQatar brings you some truly unique local documentaries highlighting stories of real people in #Doha with honestly, brilliance and artistry. Sara Al-Saadi, Maaria Assami and Latifa Al-Darwish's BADER, one of the most acclaimed and award-winning local documentaries in recent memory, brings you the story of a school boy struggling with his identity. And Amal Al Muftah's AL HAMALI is a striking portrait of the difficult lives of the ‘hamali’, the porters who assist shoppers at Qatar’s most-visited market, Doha’s Souq Waqif. See both films this Wednesday at 7.30 PM at Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). Screening is free but tickets are required. Get them here: https://goo.gl/3jNIwR

You'll be the first in the Middle East to watch this year's Palme d'or winner (#Cannes2016): I, DANIEL BLAKE! What's so special about this film is that it's the story of an everyday man whose problems are very similar to millions around the UK and the world. Emotional, heartbreaking and universal, this is a film we're sure you'll love when you see it at #ajyal16.

Back by popular demand! After our very well received Youth Acting workshop earlier this year, we're pleased to be holding it again for #Qatar's promising acting talents. If you're between 8 and 17 and want to become a professional actor, join the workshop to learn all about improvisation and how you can master body language that expresses your character's inner feelings and motivations. Workshop kicks off on October 10 and wraps up on November 23. Sign up here: http://www.dohafilminstitute.com/education/yactingworkshop

#FocusonQatar's second edition brings you some of the best locally made documentaries by #Qatar's incredible talents. Join us starting October 5th at Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) to enjoy remarkable docs focusing on intimate, heartfelt, relevant and timely stories. Among this year's lineup are: THE PALM TREE by Jassim Al Rumaihi - a reflection on how unnatural nature can be, and unearths the science fiction in reality, THE NOTEBOOK by Amna Al Binal - serving as a visual diary of some of her closest friends in real life and TO MY MOTHER by Amina Ahmed Al Bloshi - a tribute to her mother and her relentless journey to get an education. All screenings are free but require tickets - get them here: http://www.dohafilminstitute.com/events/focus-on-qatar

Local and #GCC-based producers, registration for our upcoming Producers Lab is now open! Sign up at the link in our bio and learn from some of the world's best producers who will be showcasing the creative, artistic and strategic aspects of producing short and feature-length documentary and fiction films! The Lab kicks off on November 12 and runs until November 18. RSVP before October 20 here: https://goo.gl/iIrZs6

Submissions for #DariQatar are now closed. It's been an amazing journey that wouldn't have been possible without the enthusiasm from Qatar's nationals and expats and the generous support from our wonderful partners and sponsors who truly believed in this important documentary that will be a major part of #Qatar's cultural legacy. Stay up to date with the film's latest news on its Facebook page right here: Dari Qatar - داري قطر

The documentary filmmaking industry in #Qatar is still in its early phases and despite its growth, there's still a lot of work to be done to truly make it sustainable. But what about the local filmmaking talents who, against all odds, were able to get their documentary films made and are now working on their next projects? Who are they and how did they get there? Join us for a fascinating panel discussion at the second edition of our #FocusonQatar event on October 7, 7:30 PM at Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) to discover these talents and get a sneak peak at their next projects. Panel is free but tickets are required - get yours here: goo.gl/8UaMK1

We loved this film and you will too when you see it this December at #ajyal16! HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE is a film that broke all box office records in New Zealand and scored massive raves from critics and audiences - and we're bringing it you for the first time in #Qatar so you can see what all the fuss is about. Hilarious and heartwarming at the same tine, the film tells the story of a rebellious young city kid who is sent to live with his foster parents; the two go missing in the wild New Zealand bush leading to a national manhunt.

It's shaping up to be one of the most exceptional Ajyal Youth Film Festival editions with one of the most prestigious lineups to date - our granted film UNDER THE SHADOW by Babak Anvari is the latest addition to the lineup just days after it was announced as the UK's official entry to the 2017 Best Foreign Language #Oscar race! The film is a clever blend of real-life incidents and fiction and is truly a unique piece of cinema. #ajyal16

#FocusonQatar is more than just a showcase of brilliant local films - it's an event where honest industry dialogue remains at its heart. With documentary filmmaking being the focus of this second edition, we'll be holding a panel discussion focusing on the challenges and opportunities available for independent doc filmmakers in Qatar - are they struggling to get their films made or seen? And what platforms are available for them to ensure their docs can actually find an audience? Join us on October 7, 4 PM at Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) for a fascinating discussion - get your tickets here: https://goo.gl/oQ2Twe

For the second year in a row, #FocusonQatar will offer a much needed platform to showcase local films and discuss the status of the local filmmaking industry with all its opportunities, challenges and struggles. This year, we're focusing on documentary filmmaking - an area that has seen more interest from local filmmakers but still has a long way to go. Join us for fascinating panel discussions and wonderful screenings at Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) - all events are free but require tickets. Get yours here: https://goo.gl/BoIwaU

A major addition to our Ajyal Youth Film Festival Festival lineup this year: Palme d'or-winner I, DANIEL BLAKE will have its long-awaited MENA premiere at the festival this year, following major wins at key film festivals and tremendous critical acclaim. The film will join a prestigious list of films premiering exclusively in the region at #ajyal16 - stay tuned to discover the rest of key international award players landing in Doha this December.

Our #ajyal16 lineup will inspire you and touch your heart. One of the most timely and emotional films we're bringing you this year is FIRE AT SEA, the winner of the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival and Italy’s official submission to the 2017 Best Foreign Language #Oscar race! Premiering for the first time in the Middle East at #ajyal16, it's an amazing documentary that focuses on the risky Mediterranean crossing of refugees and how it impacts the ordinary life of the islanders. Stay tuned for more news about the films we're premiering this year!

Confirmed: Our co-financed film THE SALESMAN will have its much anticipated #MENA premiere at our @Ajyalfilm Festival (November 30 - December 5)! The film is #Iran's official entry at the 2017 Best Foreign Language #Oscar race and scored 2 major prizes at #Cannes2016: Best Actor and Best Screenplay. Along with THE RED TURTLE which will also hit #ajyal16, the film is part of this year's prestigious lineup screening exclusively in the region at Ajyal!

Big news! We're proud to announce that Studio Ghibli's THE RED TURTLE will be the Closing Film of our 4th edition on December 5, 2016! Ever since this remarkable film screened at #Cannes2016, we've received so many requests from film fans who really wanted us to premiere the film here in Doha. You'll be the first in the Middle East to enjoy it at #ajyal16 - stay tuned for more surprises!

Awesome news! Hany Abu Assad's THE IDOL is #Palestine's official entry in the 2017 Best Foreign Language #Oscar race! The film tells the story of Mohammed Assaf's inspiring rise to fame and was first screened in the Middle East at our previous edition (#ajyal15). Congrats to everyone involved! #ajyal16 #SupportArabCinema

Al Jazeera Documentary Channel is a fascinating success story in the world of documentary filmmaking. Its films touched so many people and highlighted tremendous stories that deserve to be told. At the second edition of #FocusonQatar, we'll be celebrating such an inspiring success story at an insightful panel discussion and will screen one of the Channels' best documentaries CITIES OF ANXIETY. All panel discussions and screenings are free but require tickets that need to be booked prior to attending. Get yours here: https://goo.gl/T7UpqQ

FOCUS ON QATAR is back! Proud to announce that we’re bringing you the second edition of this vital event for the entire local filmmaking industry from October 5th to 7th at @MIAQatar! This year, we’ll be focusing on documentary filmmaking, an area that has seen tremendous interest in Qatar with still a lot more that can be done to boost it. In addition to screening some brilliant short films made in Qatar, we’ll be hosting several panel discussions focusing on how local filmmakers can take their documentary projects to the next level and how this passion can be turned into a robust industry. Discover the program and stay tuned for more on the panel discussions and screenings: https://goo.gl/aVHt4O